9/19/18 - Healthcare Rally Draws Hundreds

Hundreds of County WorkersRally for Affordable Healthcare

Yesterday morning, hundreds of County workers rallied outside the Board of Supervisors meeting before packing the room as representatives from the Union Healthcare Coalition addressed the Board during public comment.

Members were joined by several community allies at this action. Special thanks to Richmond Vice Mayor Melvin Willis, Richmond City Councilwoman and Labor's endorsed candidate for Assembly District 15 Jovanka Beckles, the Contra Costa Labor Council, ACCE, the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa and Reverend Will McGarvy, and many more for supporting County workers and rallying with us!

While our efforts are already strengthening the Coalition's position, we must keep it up. To make real change in Contra Costa and make healthcare more affordable for County workers and our families, we are going to need a sustained campaign.

The actions union members are taking to demand affordable healthcare forourselves and our families has made the County take notice.

The County has agreed to 3 bargaining dates with the Coalition this week and next.

The County has proposed to cover the 2019 premium increases for the Kaiser and CCHP plans, and partial coverage for Health Net increases.

However, the County’s proposal to address the 2019 increases would lock us into a three-year contract that would not fix healthcare rates for 2020 or 2021, and itwould not fix the unaffordable premiums we already have. Contra Costa County would still be at the bottom of the pack on % of healthcare premiums it pays for employees, and we’d continue to face a worsening health care problem. While the County says it would include wage increases in the deal, we know that they will be eaten up by rising healthcare costs unless something is done to address the healthcare crisis.

We were at the Board today to make it clear that we need REAL CHANGE to our healthcare system. We need a fix to many years of escalating costs. We need the County to pay its fair share of premiums. We need to put in place a smarter system where we have better bargaining power with providers. We will not take any deal where we are staving off premium increases for one year, in exchange for selling ourselves out in every year after. Enough is enough!

Hello, my name is ______. I am a County employee and a member of IFPTE Local 21. I'm writing to ask for your support in addressing the health care crisis impacting County employees and our families. Although I could not attend the rally today with my colleagues, it is important to me that the County works with our unions on a real solution to the health care crisis impacting public services in Contra Costa. For too long, County employees have paid more for health care than any of our peers in the Bay Area. As a Contra Costa County employee (and resident), we need your support for affordable and equitable health care now.